Sometimes, saying, “You mean the world to me” takes something extra special. In recent years, eternity rings have become more and more popular among couples for what they symbolise. You know it’s not an engagement ring or a wedding ring. So what is it?
Purchasing or gifting an eternity ring is an exciting and special experience, but getting the right one for your significant other involves several factors. There’s the style, design, setting, and colour, among many other details.
If you’re searching for the perfect one, this is your ultimate guide to eternity rings. We’ll take you through the history and symbolism and help you select the perfect piece to express your love for your partner.
What is an Eternity Ring?
As the name suggests, an Eternity ring symbolises eternity, love, and commitment. The partial or continuous line of gemstones around the band represents an unbreakable bond between two people. Eternity rings symbolise everlasting love and are a powerful expression of commitment. People may want to gift an eternity ring to show their significant others how much they mean to them.
Eternity rings are special not just because of the way they look but also because of the reason they’re given. They are meant to serve as a timeless symbol of a partner’s unending love and commitment.
Significance of Eternity Rings
There are various types of commitment rings, such as wedding bands, promise rings, and engagement rings. But an eternity ring symbolises your love and commitment and shows the receiver how much they mean to you. The continuous design of the band underscores the promise of love, commitment, and shared experiences that will continue until eternity.
The bands are usually encircled with diamonds or other gemstones that further establish the idea of eternity. The sparkle of each stone represents the special moments of love and life. This style of ring has been a symbol of eternal love since ancient times and is exchanged even today as a gesture of everlasting devotion.
Origin of Eternity Rings
The origin of eternity rings traces back to ancient Egypt, where the circular shape symbolised the cycle of life and eternity. Egyptians believed the circle had no end or beginning, representing an infinite loop of life and love.
While eternity rings fell out of fashion during the Middle Ages, they regained popularity during the Renaissance, when they were made with precious gems and metals. Moving forward, eternity rings gained significant popularity during the Victorian era when Queen Victoria popularised them by giving one to Prince Albert as a symbol of their never-ending love.
In recent times, eternity rings have become a symbol of everlasting love and commitment. They are often exchanged between partners to celebrate important milestones in their relationship, like an anniversary, a wedding, the birth of the first child, or the renewal of vows.
However, there is no right or wrong time to give an eternity ring, as it is very personal and special to the individual and their partner. In today’s time, people believe an eternity ring should be given to celebrate any kind of milestone or just symbolise the time you’ve spent together or the future you have with each other.
While the ancient Egyptians focused on the ring’s symbolism, today’s eternity rings combine sentiment and style, making them a popular gift for commemorating significant life moments and events.
How to wear an Eternity Ring?
There is no strict order for how an eternity ring should be worn. It can be worn in any way that looks attractive to the wearer. However, traditionally, the wedding ring goes first, followed by the engagement ring and then the eternity ring.
The wedding ring sits closest to the heart, followed by the engagement ring, which you may need to remove while performing daily activities, and finally, the eternity ring, which sits next to the engagement ring on the ring finger on the left hand. However, many choose to wear it on the right finger of the right hand in the daytime. This way, the wearer has something to wear on both hands. Traditionally, the ring is moved back to the left finger on the left hand during the evening.
Truth is though; it’s all up to you.
Choosing the perfect Eternity Ring Style
Apart from their meaning, what makes eternity rings so special is their design, which typically features a continuous line of diamonds or gemstones. However, not all eternity rings have the same design. There are different styles to suit various lifestyles, budgets and preferences.
Here are the most popular eternity ring styles:
1. Full Eternity rings:
A full-eternity ring features diamonds or other precious or semi-precious gemstones throughout the entire band, allowing the ring to sparkle from every angle. However, due to the number of diamonds on the band, a full-eternity ring cannot be resized and is more expensive.
2. Half Eternity rings:
If you love the look of a full-eternity band but need space for resizing and comfort, a half-eternity ring is ideal for you. This ring type has a row of stones set across the top half of the band, either in five, seven or nine-stone configurations. Half-eternity rings are less expensive, more comfortable, and more practical and can be resized if needed.
3. Gemstone Eternity rings:
Gemstone eternity rings combine a mix of precious gemstones, such as emeralds, sapphires, and rubies, with diamonds. The stones are set in a continuous pattern on the precious metal band, with each gemstone representing a moment, memory, or shared experience.
4. Five-stone & Seven-stone Eternity rings:
Both five and seven-stone eternity rings are symbolic. Each stone in a five-stone eternity ring represents a stage in a romantic relationship, such as friendship, courtship, dating, marriage, and children. A seven-stone ring symbolises everlasting love.
Various Eternity Ring Settings
While the main focus remains on the metal, stone, and style, the setting is one of the most important things to consider when choosing an eternity ring. The setting can change the whole look of the ring and impact its durability, too.
The following are the most popular types of settings for eternity rings:
- Claw—in this type of setting, four metal claws wrap around the top of each diamond to hold it in place. This setting is most suitable for round diamonds as it allows maximum light to enter the diamond, creating a dazzling effect. The claw setting works well with eternity rings, larger stones, and even half, five, or seven-stone eternity rings.
- Channel—this setting does not have metal between the stones; instead, a channel is formed down the ring centre to house the diamonds in between. This ensures the diamonds are protected in a durable setting. The channel-setting ring is perfect for daily wear or for people who work with their hands.
- Rub–Over—in a rub–over setting, a thin metal rim encircles the stone in place. This kind of setting is the most secure and perfect for those with an active lifestyle.
- Pave—the pave-setting eternity ring features small diamonds set close together to create a sparkling effect. The small diamonds are set into small holes in the metal band of the ring and secured with tiny prongs. The pave-setting ring creates a continuous band of sparkle and is popular for its bold appearance.
- Bar—a bar set is a unique ring design with diamonds set in a row between metal bars. Here, the metal design is as important as the diamonds. The bars protect the diamonds and allow light to pass through, showcasing each diamond perfectly.
Which metal should you choose for your Eternity ring?
Although eternity rings were traditionally crafted from gold, today, they are available in various metals, such as gold, platinum, and even silver.
The colour of the metal you choose for your ring depends on your and your partner’s taste and preference. However, you’ll need to consider whether the metal you choose matches their existing jewellery’s metal. If you want a contrast with a different metal, that’s fine too!
Here are the 4 most common types of metal used in eternity rings:
- Platinum
A platinum eternity ring is the ultimate in luxury. It embraces a natural white sheen, and its lustre makes it the perfect choice for a diamond eternity ring. Plus, platinum does not tarnish or lose its brilliance over time, making it a more expensive metal than gold. It also enhances the natural sparkle of diamonds and can be worn every day.
- Yellow Gold
A timeless and classic choice for any diamond eternity ring is 18ct yellow gold. Yellow gold has been used for thousands of years for its warmth and resistance to corrosion. While 18ct yellow gold is ideal for its durability and tarnish resistance, you can opt for 9ct rings for a budget-friendly option. The rich golden design never goes out of style and can be matched easily with other metal colours.
- Rose Gold
Rose gold, or the pink hue of gold, gained popularity in the 1920s and made a comeback in the 2010s. This unique tone of gold is created by mixing gold with copper and offers an elegance that not all metals can achieve. The soft, warm hue of pink gold is widely associated with love and romance and has seen an increase in popularity in recent years.
- White Gold
White gold is a fabulous and more affordable alternative to platinum. This metal has been fashionable since the 1920s and is currently one of the most popular metals used in jewellery. The colour of white gold beautifully complements diamonds or other coloured gemstones in an eternity ring.
Preferred stones for eternity ring
Decide if you want diamonds or gemstones for your eternity ring. Diamonds are the traditional choice for this type of symbolic love ring, but gemstone eternity rings are also a stunning alternative.
Diamond eternity rings
Diamonds have long been associated with precious gemstones and are beautiful and rare. This exquisite stone is often associated with love and romance, making it perfect for eternity rings. A diamond eternity ring is a timeless classic and perfect for everyday wear.
While there is a large array of diamond shapes available, here are the most typically used cuts in eternity rings:
- Round Brilliant Cut: This is the most commonly found cut in eternity rings. Round brilliant cut diamonds reflect the most light, creating a diamond eternity ring that sparkles sensationally.
- Baguette Cut: Baguette-cut diamonds are rectangular and elongated, elegant and slender in appearance, and offer vintage-inspired appeal. They are frequently used in diamond eternity rings.
- Princess Cut: Princess cut diamonds have a square shape and are popular in eternity rings as the diamonds can be set closely to create an almost seamless band of twinkling brilliance. The princess-cut eternity rings offer a certain level of contemporary elegance.
- Emerald Cut: This cut is distinctive with its rectangular shape and linear facets, creating a sophisticated appearance. On an eternity ring, emerald cut diamonds look undeniably luxe.
Gemstone eternity rings
If you want to throw in a pop of colour or add a twist to your eternity ring, coloured gemstones are an appealing, incredibly meaningful alternative. After all, who doesn’t have a favourite gemstone?
Gemstone eternity rings are usually set with coloured gemstones instead of diamonds. The most commonly used gemstones are sapphires, rubies, and emeralds, which are the most classic options for an eternity ring.
But you can choose something off the rules, like your loved one’s birthstone, as an emotional choice. Or, if you are choosing an eternity ring to celebrate your newborn, a ring set with your baby’s birthstone is a beautiful option. Or why not choose her zodiac stone or anniversary stone?
There actually isn’t any rule, and it is simply a matter of personal taste.
How do you pair eternity rings with other rings?
If you’re going to wear all the rings on the same finger, it’s important to ensure they all complement each other well.
When choosing the metal, it’s not important for all the shades to be similar. For example, silver and gold can pair well as the classic look of gold works beautifully with the sleek aesthetics of silver. On the brighter side, mixing the metals is a great way to distinguish each ring.
Similarly, when choosing a stone, pay attention to its colours. The good news is that if the previous ring has one or more diamonds, it will pair well with gemstones of any colour.
You can choose different shades with gemstone eternity rings to achieve a more balanced look. For example, pair light aquamarine with dark sapphire if you want a blue scheme.
Tips To Care for Your Eternity Ring
Eternity rings are precious and must be taken care of properly.
Cleaning:
- Soak the ring in warm, soapy water, then gently brush the metal band and between the diamonds with a soft brush.
- Rinse the ring with cool water and dry it with a soft cloth.
- Consider cleaning it professionally once a year to reach the hidden areas and maximise the sparkle.
Storing:
- Store the ring in a soft pouch or box to prevent scratches.
- Avoid keeping your ring in a place where it could be lost or knocked over.
Wearing:
- Remove the ring before showering or working with your hands.
- Avoid wearing it when travelling to the pool or beach, where sand and water could damage it.
CONCLUSION
The popularity of eternity rings has risen in the past couple of years for their symbolism and value. While there are a host of reasons why and when you should give your partner an eternity ring, the thing that matters the most is to decide what it means to you. The eternity ring must represent your never-ending love for each other that stays till eternity.
